Stanford's online engineering programs

I have been looking into the online certificate and MS programs at Stanford's Center for Professional Development.

http://scpd.stanford.edu/scpd/programs/

The problem is: they are only available to employees of "member companies." I am not such an employee.

I was looking into what it takes to become a "member company" and it seems like all it takes is a Federal Tax ID and for the business to be in existence for 12 months.

My question: I used to do my consulting and contracting work through a partnership that I dissolved two years ago. If I resumed this business for a year and applied, do you think I could become a "member company" as a sole proprietor?

Here is the relevant requirements for membership, as far as I can tell.

https://scpd.stanford.edu/scpd/secure/memAgreement_Assoc.asp#eligibil

Further down they mention provisions for companies with 3 or fewer employees.

https://scpd.stanford.edu/scpd/secure/memAgreement_Assoc.asp#exam

Tell me what you think.

 

Stanford has multiple delivery methods. I was just looking at the Certificate in Statistics, as an example. The courses that offer an internet option do not require you work for a member company. However, the tuition is $3,597 a 3 credit course. It is cheaper for a non-degree option at $2,994.

I took the short course on modeling from Sam Savage last year and it was pre-recorded, streamed video.

 

Thanks for the reply. From reading the web site it seems that that course was available to non-members because it was a "short-course" and not a full for-credit course. Of course, you may know more than I do because the only information I have is from the web site, but this is what I found there:

Membership applies to employees company-wide and permits participation in the Honors Cooperative Program (HCP), Non-Degree Option (NDO), and Audit student options. Membership is not required for participation in non-credit short courses, seminars, and other programs offered by the Professional Education division of the SCPD.

http://scpd.stanford.edu/scpd/members/companies/become.htm

(The Masters Degrees are taken through HCP and the certificates through NDO)

and also:

Q: What is NDO?


A: NDO is the Non-Degree Option program available to employees of companies affiliated with the Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD). Courses are taken remotely. No degree is obtained.

http://cs.stanford.edu/Degrees/mscs/faq.php

 

When I had a question about a graduate certificate they were offering, I emailed them with my questions. I was told what the tuition was and there was no condition about working for a member company.

Since my information differs from yours, I suggest you email them with your specific questions.

 

I am waiting for their response now (probably because of the holidays) I would be elated if I could enroll in the CS certificate program without being an employee of a member company. However, I am expecting that not to be the case and I was just curious to see if anyone knew whether they care about the size/longevity of a company or if it was an automatic sort of membership.

I would ask this in an email except that saying: "I am thinking of setting up a company with myself as the only employee for the sole purpose of skirting your requirements"
would sound stranger in an email to them than it does on this discussion board

 

The representative from scpd got back to me today. You were right. It seems that people can enroll in the certificate programs (NDO) without member company support. Here is part of that email:

Thanks for your help.

 

Glad to hear its less complicated than you originally thought - thanks for letting me know.

Good luck with the program if you decide to persue it